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the bell…rope； “shall I wish you good day for the present； on the
part of myself and the gentleman of the house？” he asks in an
insinuating tone。
Nobody having the hardihood to object to his doing so； he does
it； and the party retire as they came up。 Mr Bucket follows them to
the door； and； returning； says with an air of serious business：—
“Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； it’s for you to consider
whether or not to buy this up。 I should recommend； on the whole；
it’s being bought up myself； and I think it may be bought pretty
cheap。 You see； that little pickled cucumber of a Mrs Snagsby has
been used by all sides of the speculation； and has done a deal more
harm in bringing odds and ends together than if she had meant it。
Mr Tulkinghorn； deceased； he held all these horses in his hand；
and could have drove ’em his own way； I haven’t a doubt； but he
was fetched off the box head…foremost； and now they have got
their legs over the traces； and are all dragging and pulling their
own ways。 So it is； and such is life。 The cat’s away； and the mice
they play； the frost breaks up； and the water runs。 Now； with
regard to the party to be apprehended。”
Sir Leicester seems to wake； though his eyes have been wide
open； and he looks intently at Mr Bucket； as Mr Bucket refers to
his watch。
“The party to be apprehended is now in this house；” proceeds
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Bleak House 1011
Mr Bucket； putting up his watch with a steady hand； and with
rising spirits； “and I’m about to take her into custody in your
presence。 Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； don’t you say a word；
nor yet stir。 There’ll be no noise； and no disturbance at all。 I’ll
come back in the course of the evening if agreeable to you； and
endeavour to meet your wishes respecting this unfortunate family
matter； and the nobbiest way of keeping it quiet。 Now Sir
Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； don’t you be nervous on account of
the apprehension at present coming off。 You shall see the whole
case clear； from first to last。”
Mr Bucket rings； goes to the door； briefly whispers Mercury；
shuts the door； and stands behind it with his arms folded。 After a
suspense of a minute or two； the door slowly opens； and a French
woman enters。 Mademoiselle Hortense。
The moment she is in the room； Mr Bucket claps the door to；
and puts his back against it。 The suddenness of the noise
occasions her to turn； and then； for the first time； she sees Sir
Leicester Dedlock in his chair。
“I ask your pardon；” she mutters hurriedly。 “They tell me there
was no one here。”
Her step towards the door brings her front to front with Mr
Bucket。 Suddenly a spasm shoots across her face； and she turns
deadly pale。
“This is my lodger； Sir Leicester Dedlock；” says Mr Bucket；
nodding at her。 “This foreign young woman has been my lodger
for some weeks back。”
“What do Sir Leicester care for that； you think； my angel？”
returns Mademoiselle； in a jocular strain。
“Why； my angel；” returns Mr Bucket； “we shall see。”
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Bleak House 1012
Mademoiselle Hortense eyes him with a scowl upon her tight
face； which gradually changes into a smile of scorn。 “You are very
mysterieuse。 Are you drunk？”
“Tolerable sober； my angel；” returns Mr Bucket。
“I come from arriving at this so detestable house with your wife。
Your wife have left me； since some minutes。 They tell me
downstairs that your wife is here。 I come here； and your wife is not
here。 What is the intention of this fool’s play； say then？”
Mademoiselle demands； with her arms composedly crossed； but
with something in her dark cheek beating like a clock。
Mr Bucket merely shakes the finger at her。
“Ah； my God； you are an unhappy idiot！” cries Mademoiselle；
with a toss of her head and a laugh。—“Leave me to pass
downstairs； great pig。” With a stamp of her foot； and a menace。
“Now； Mademoiselle；” says Mr Bucket； in a cool determined
way； “you go and sit down upon that sofy。”
“I will not sit down upon nothing；” she replies； with a shower of
nods。
“Now； Mademoiselle；” repeats Mr Bucket； making no
demonstration； except with the finger； “you sit down upon that
sofy。”
“Why？”
“Because I take you into custody on a charge of murder； and
you don’t need to be told it。 Now； I want to be polite to one of your
sex and a foreigner； if I can。 If I can’t； I must be rough； and there’s
rougher ones outside。 What I am to be； depends on you。 So I
recommend you； as a friend； afore another half a blessed moment
has passed over your head； to go and sit down upon that sofy。”
Mademoiselle complies； saying in a concentrated voice； while
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Bleak House 1013
that something in her cheek beats fast and hard； “You are a
Devil。”
“Now； you see；” Mr Bucket proceeds approvingly “you’re
comfortable； and conducting yourself as I should expect a foreign
young woman of your sense to do。 So I’ll give you a piece of advice；
and it’s this； Don’t you talk too much。 You’re not expected to say
anything here； and you can’t keep too quiet a tongue in your head。
In short； the less you Parlay； the better； you know。” Mr Bucket is
very complacent over this French explanation。
Mademoiselle； with that tigerish expansion of the mouth； and
her black eyes darting fire upon him； sits upright on the sofa in a
rigid state； with her hands clenched—and her feet too； one might
suppose—muttering； “O； you Bucket； you are a Devil！”
“Now； Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet；” says Mr Bucket； and
from this time forth the finger never rests； “this young woman； my
lodger； was her Ladyship’s maid at the time I have mentioned to
you； and this young woman； besides being extraordinary
vehement and passionate against her Ladyship after being
discharged—”
“Lie！” cries Mademoiselle。 “I discharge myself。”
“Now； why don’t you take my advice？” returns Mr Bucket； in
an impressive； almost in an imploring tone。 “I’m surprised at the
indiscreetness you commit。 You’ll say something that’ll be used
against you； you know。 You’re sure to come to it。 Never you mind
what I say； till it’s given in evidence。 It’s not addressed to you。”
“Discharge； too！” cries Mademoiselle； furiously； “by her
Ladyship！ Eh； my faith； a pretty Ladyship！ Why； I r…r…r…ruin my